A > B: A is greater than B
A => B: A is equal to or greater than B
A < B: A is less than B
A =< B: A is equal to or less than B
Apetalous - without petals.
Axillary - originating from the stem immediately above a leaf petiole (Fig 5).
Bract - a specialized leaf occurring beneath
a flower and usually appearing petal-
like
Calyx - collective term for all the sepals in a flower (Fig 1).
Calyx tube - tubular portion of calyx formed
by fusion of lower portions of sepals
(Fig
6).
Columnar - extending upward like a post or fingertip.
Composite - flowers that occur in dense heads
atop a specialized set of bracts
Called phyllaries; overall aspect sunflower-like or daisy-like (Fig
2).
Corolla - collective term for all the petals in a flower (Fig 1).
Corymb - inflorescence with numerous pedicels
arising at various levels on the
stem, the outermost ones longer so that a flat or convex inflorescence
results (Fig 5).
Dichotomously branched - repeated branching
in pairs, producing symmetrical
branched pattern.
Disc - central area of the head of a composite flower, composed of disc flowers (Fig 2).
Discoid - composite flower head composed of disc flowers only (Fig 3).
Entire - said of leaf (or petal, etc) margin
that is smooth, unmodified, without
teeth.
Exserted - said of stamens of stigmas that extend beyond margin of corolla.
Eye - central portion of a corolla different in color from remainder.
Floral tube - tubular portion of corolla formed
by fusion of lower portions of
petals (Fig 6).
Funnelform - floral tube which widens gradually
toward apex producing
trumpet-shaped corolla (Fig 6).
Glabrous - smooth, not hairy.
Globose - rounded, spherical.
Head - dense cluster of flowers atop an involucre
of specialized bracts called
phyllaries; entire cluster appears daisy-like or sunflower-like and is
often
mistakenly referred to as one "flower" (Fig
2).
Imperfect - flower that lacks either male or female parts.
Inferior - below; when referring to an ovary, below the calyx (Fig 4).
Inflorescence - all of the flowers on one plant.
Involucre - collective term for all the phyllaries
beneath a composite flower head
(Fig
2).
Irregular - not symmetrical; when referring
to a perianth, with all sepals and/or
petals not of same size or shape.
Ligulate - composite flower head composed of ray flowers only (Fig 3).
Ligule - enlarged, flat, petal-like portion of the corolla of a ray flower (Fig 2).
Palmate – a
pattern of branching of veins, lobes, or leaflets in which several
equally-sized units originate from a single point, similar to the fingers
of the hand originating from the palm (Fig
9).
Panicle - compound inflorescence; a cluster
of associated spikes, racemes or
corymbs (Fig 5).
Papilionaceous - pea-like, with five distinctive
petals: a banner, wings and keel
(Fig
7).
Pectinate - with narrow close-set divisions, like teeth of a comb.
Pedicel - stalk of an individual flower (Fig 1).
Perfect - flower that has both male and female parts.
Perianth - collective term for all petals
and sepals in a flower: = calyx + corolla
(Fig
1).
Peripheral - at the margin of; around the edge of.
Petaloid - petal-like in color and/or anatomy.
Pinnate – a
pattern of branching of veins, lobes, or leaflets in which smaller units
originate along the axis of a larger central unit, similar to the structure
of a feather (Fig 10).
Phyllary - specialized, scale-like bract,generally
several or many in a series,
that occur directly beneath a composite flower head and collectively form
the involucre (Fig 2).
Pinnatifid - said of leaf blade that is divided into segments along its margin.
Prickle - sharp outgrowth of epidermis; for
purposes of this key, prickles are
straight, never curved like a cat's claw.
Pubescent - hairy.
Raceme - inflorescence with single axis and flowers on pedicels (Fig 5).
Radiate - composite flower head composed of
central disc and peripheral ray
flowers (Fig 3).
Ray flower - one of two basic types of flowers
in composite head; recognized by
presence of a ligule (Fig 2).
Regular - symmetrical; when referring to corolla
or calyx, with all petals/sepals
same size and shape.
Reflexed - abruptly bent backward or downward.
Ruffled - wavy.
Salverform - corolla with floral tube that
expands abruptly into a flat, saucer-
like lip (Fig 6).
Scape - leafless stalk.
Sepal - modified leaf of the calyx (Fig 1)
Spike - inflorescence with single axis and flowers lacking pedicels (Fig 5).
Spur - slender projecting process from some
portion of the perianth (Fig 8).
(Resembles a rooster's spur, not a cowboy's spur!)
Staminode - enlarged, sterile stamen; generally hairy on tip; lacks anther sac.
Stigma - terminal portion of female portion of flower, where pollen settles (Fig 1).
Stipule - paired small green appendages on
stem at point of attachment of leaf
petiole.
Stramineous - straw-colored.
Superior - above; when referring to an ovary, above the calyx (Fig 4).
Tepal - common term for sepals and petals when both look very much alike.
Terminal - at the end of a stem or branch.
Thorn - firm, sharp woody outgrowth; for purposes
of this key, always curved like
a cat's claw.
Trifoliate - compound leaf composed of three leaflets.
Two-lipped - corolla/calyx tube that terminates
in petal/sepal lobes in two rather
prominent groups, as seen from the side (Fig
6).
Umbel - flat-topped inflorescence with pedicels
arising from a common point on
stem (Fig 5).